Church Growth Trust has just let a property in Brunswick Street, Derby to New Life Church(NLC), an Assemblies of God affiliated church, that meets in the Normanton Road area of Derby.

NLC have a significant gospel outreach programme currently operating from their large church building and the Brunswick Street property will allow them to expand and enhance their mission. A considerable amount of prayer and discussions were involved.

John Duffield, who is Property Manager at Church Growth Trust, said: “Taking a tenancy of the property was a significant step for New Life Church. A large part of the journey has been to take time to understand the church’s current commitments, learn how they saw the building being used and to help address their concerns about operating from the building yet remaining within their means.”

Henry Ita, Senior Leader at NLC said – “We are passionate to respond to God’s call to reach out to and serve the poor and alienated people in our area. The Brunswick Street property gives us more capacity and flexibility to do this and to build our outreach. We look forward to working with Church Growth Trust in the years ahead.”

We loved our last banner but it was time for a new and fresh look and the opportunity for creativity to flourish in updating this design.

This is all ready for the next event where we are exhibiting Living the Passion 2018 at the end of October. If you are joining us at that event, come and say hello to the team who will be more than happy to share more on the amazing services we offer.

A massive shout out and thank you to Tea for Three whose creative flare assisted in the design of this.

South Ruislip Christian Fellowship in Middlesex, on the grounds of a site built post war out of scavenged building materials around a wooden hut which was the first church building on the site.

On the 12 May 1952, as the concrete was being built around the original hut, a wedding was held in the church with the new building walls being erected around them.

The present facility is now in an exciting phase of development again with the church approaching us about a project for an extension to the front of the church building which will improve access and visibility from the street into the building as well as new toilet facilities.

We have been excited to work with the church in this development and the 3D image created by ourselves provides the planned and now APPROVED new look building entrance and are now looking forward to moving this forward and seeing this work commence.

 

 

We have made some recent improvements to our website which we hope you find really helpful.

• Improved navigation to assist you finding your intended Briefing Paper quicker – hover over the subject title for a breakdown of papers available and then click on the one you want to view

• New ‘Properties Available’ page – list of current vacant and available church premise

 

We are really excited to be able to provide this NEW guide to the model CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) alongside useful notes and information.

Click HERE to find out more.

 

 

Ever wondered what the requirements, approvals and consent process is, and also what is permitted when it comes to the area of external signs and notices for your church premises?

Ever been asked the question….”Do we need permission to replace existing signage?” or “How long can we display our advertisement for?” or “How do you gain consent?”

Look no further than our brand new for September Briefing paper on this very topic. Just click HERE for the document.

 

If you read the national press you might think the church is in terminal decline, with the traditional churches closing by the hundreds.

 However, the story we see at Church Growth Trust (CGT) is very different. Although we are aware of many small fellowships closing, we are also aware of many churches growing and new churches being planted. We are privileged to help closing assemblies pass on the baton to other newer churches that are growing and are desperate for a building, to act as a base for their effective outreach to their local communities. See the Lease of life stories article. We are also involved with projects that are putting old (and often redundant) church buildings back into Gospel use. Our retiring Chairman Leslie Lucas points out in his article, the work of CGT continues to grow.

Starting with two part-time staff working from my dining room in 2010, we now have a strong team to cope with the plans the Lord has for us in the years ahead. I am personally extremely grateful to Leslie for his wisdom and clarity of vision, as he has steered us through these foundational years and I praise God for the blessings and promises of the Lord, who is faithful in sustaining and providing for us and this vital ministry of keeping church buildings for Gospel use and making them fit for purpose as places of worship and outreach for the alive and growing 21st century church.

Contents

Putting church buildings back into Gospel use

Lease of life stories

Church signs and notices

Towards retirement

Model CIOs

Is leadership a biblical virtue?

An answer to our prayers

Catch the vision – changes with Church Planting Initiative

May the Lord encourage you in your work.

Yours in His service

Giles Arnold

Chief Executive of Church Growth Trust